Written by Cris Sykes

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Thank you NFL. You just gave the 2006 Cleveland Browns exactly what they need. Chances to win some games and build momentum and confidence.

The Cleveland Browns are trying to change their identity, and a key to the change is winning games. Once a team starts winning, they start to believe in what is being done around them. There is no reason the Browns cannot start the year 4-0, with home games against New Orleans in week 1 and Baltimore in week 3 sandwiched with road games at Cincinnati in week 2 and Oakland in week 4.

After week 4, things get quite a bit tougher. Week 5 is a trip to Carolina to take on the Panthers followed by our bye week. Home games against Denver and the Jets come after the bye. Then road trips to San Diego and Atlanta precede a three game home stand. The home stand will see out first game with the Squeelers, followed by the Bungals coming up I-71, and the Kansas City Chiefs coming town.

Week 14 will see the Browns on the NFL Network, making their only prime time appearance of 2006, playing at Pittsburgh. They finish up the schedule with games at Baltimore, home versus Tampa Bay, and a trip to Houston to face the Texans.

If the Browns can take care of business in just the games they should win, they will continue their climb up the standings. If they can win a couple games that they will not be expected to win, they could break the .500 barrier. If that hot start gets them rolling, builds that momentum and confidence, are 10 wins completely out of the question? I don’t think so.

The Browns 2006 schedule is listed below ...

Sep 10 New Orleans 1:00pm
 Sep 17 @Cincinnati 1:00pm
 Sep 24 Baltimore 4:05pm
 Oct 1 @Oakland 4:15pm
 Oct 8 @Carolina 1:00pm
 Week 6 BYE
 Oct 22 Denver 4:05pm
 Oct 29 N.Y. Jets 4:15pm
 Nov 5 @San Diego 4:15pm
 Nov 12 @Atlanta 1:00pm
 Nov 19 Pittsburgh 1:00pm
 Nov 26 Cincinnati 1:00pm
 Dec 3 Kansas City 1:00pm
 Dec 7 @Pittsburgh 8:00pm
 Dec 17 @Baltimore 1:00pm
 Dec 24 Tampa Bay 1:00pm
 Dec 31 @Houston 1:00pm